Automatic train stop or signal device.



O. A. ROSS,

A111111011111110 TRAIN STOP 01".. L DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUL" 907.` I l Patented June 23, 1914. l

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET. l.

` o. A: Ross. AUTOMATIC TRAIN STOP OR SIGNAL DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19, 1907. 1,195,351 l Patented June 23,1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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O. A. ROSS, AUTOMATIC TRAIN STOP 0B, STGNAL DEVICE.

APPLICATON ILED JULY 19, 1907.

Paeated June 23,

Lmmm

0. A. ROSS.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN STOP OR SIGNAL DEVI'GE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19, 1907.

1,101,51 1 Patented June 23,19%.

4 SHEETSSHEBT 4,

@SCAR ROSS, OF CHCJELGO; LLNES, ASSGNCR KASSGN, GF CIrGAH-Q,

GF SNE-HLF .TO C. VALLETTE LLN 01S.

AUICTA'EC TRAN 'STOP GR .SIGNAL DEVICE.

mohair.

To all whom ai may concern: l u

Be it known that @com A. Ross, citiN zen of the United' States, residing er. 'Siri cago, county of Goeie, and Srta-te et illinois, have invented certain new and useful proveniente in internet/io 'i Signal ieviceyot 'which the, l descripti( like te li.

i l paratns Winch inght ienne de i ble to sten to proceed Wi The object of my in simple. duri-ibis. and e ctive de .lrind described arranged to indieA condition veli that track to whim is no' chance ot' person in t train or Vehicle iying' np of a Wholly' or pa. any with the possihie attending sequences. t

To this end my inventicr; consist-s in the novel construction, arrangement, and conibination of partsy herein shown and described' particularly pointed out in the c'iaiins.

In accompanying' wherein like or sirn 1rs like or ce i i ter diagrammatic sowing the angement of the conductors and associated. parts of the rail circuitior a. donbietraclr read. Fig. 2 is a View siniiiar tohig. l, but showing the changes produced inthe mechanism by the presence of a vehicle upon the track.

disastrous con -Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit and associated parts upon the vehicle. Fig. 4 is a side detailed elevation of the preferred form of contactshoe. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 6 is an end elevation of a brake, or signal operating mechanism. 7 is a section taken substantially on line 7`7 of Fig. 8, and Fig. 8 is a section taken substantially on line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

To put. my system into operation upon a road, the rails composing the track preterably iirst divided into sections or blocks as l, 2,3 and l, 2" and 3 each section being Specification of Letters Patent.

agsaeation le filly 1S, les?. Serial No.

i telly insulated from the mi 1 vl fth t 1 i s L.long and tne rails at one sic e o e rac r s oi l and conductor 8 to posite rail of the section atented June 23, 558-1155427.

preferably from a part of one mile to several nnles in ength, the raiis thereof being carerails of the adJacent ircni those-,Yat the opposite side. The several.

` embers composing each section are G0 i or otherwise electrically d so that the rail forming each side si section is adapted to serve as a concondnctor extending the.` entire the section. In the orm shown `n.5 tact bar i isprovided adjacent'the section extending substantially l with the rails of the sectionI` and raiis of an adjacent track of suitable conductor end connected by if eicctricaliv connected at one end to one of section by ic 5 and at the a conductor G, one terminal of the idings of an electromagnet 9. The other terminal of the magnet Winding is con.- ne d by means of a conductor l0 to the opto which the conductor 5 is attached.

In the drawings for the purpose of illus. tration, my mechanism is shown arranged to so operate a the adjacent end of the section next preceding the section to which the conductors 20 and 5 are attached. It is obvious that by merely lextending these conductors the magnet 9 and associated cooperating 85 par-ts may be positioned at the end of7 or at "ny prei 1 l v'red point in, the second preceding ire isection in the track and operate ntially the same manner as shown, nat the distance between the point i ie signal is received and the dangerous sec lion of track Will be changed to that Any suit-able source of electric energy ma be provided for operating' the track circuit 95 above described. In the form shown a battery il is provided foreach section and connected by means of the conductors 12 and 14 to the opposite rails of the section respectively. The contact bar el andassociated parts above described being preferably -so positioned that a Vehicle after arriving at. the bar at the end ot' a section may be brought to a stop before entering the next succeeding section. The direction of vehicles upon the tracks being as indicated in thc drawings by the arrows. is shown and above described7 it is obvio'us that current supplied by the battery 11 will flow by means of the conductor 1:2, rail 2, conductor 5, Contact bar 4; in next section, conductor 6, stop 7, conductor 8 electromagnet 9 and conductor 10', rail 2 and conductor 14, back to the batteryl 1.1, thus completingl the circuit through the electroinagnet 9 and attract-ing the armature lllhen however,` a vehicle posees from the rails il, 1 to the rails 2 and 2 closing the circuit directl between the rails 2 and E2', it is obvious tat owing to the reduced resistance, in the new connection between the rails particularly after the connections between the 'conductors 5 and 10 with the vrails 2 and 2 respectively' are passed-the electric energy Will cease to operate the magnet 9', and the armature 15 will be released ermitting the saine to be moved by a spring or other suitable means into contact with the stop 7 thus closing a circuit directly be tween the rail 1 and contact bar 4l by means of the conductor 16, armature 15 stop 7 and conductor 6. The parts will remain in the above described condition until the vehicle reaches the opposite end of the section 2 when the electro-magnet 9 and other aS- eociated parts will assume their normal condition, and the electro-magnet 9 and its associated parte l'or the next section operate ae above described.

Any suitable means may be employed for utilizing the above described operations to operate a Signal or other moana tor waruing the operator of a train or vehicle upon a preceding section oit the track kthat a certain section .in advance is occupied. l'n the form shown nach. vehicle or train upon the track is provided with a suitable source of electric energy, for. example", a batery 17 (Fig. El) -connectcd by means of conductors 18 and 19 to a suitable signal operatingr device 20, adapted to operate Whenever the circuit from the battery is opened or otherwise prevented from controlling itsmechaniem. The oppoaite pole of the battery 1.7 is connected. by means of a conifluclor Q1, shoe E22 and conductor 23 to the opposite pole of the device 20'. A. separate conductor 19 is suitably connected to the conductor 18 and extends to one of the trucks of Athe vehicle or other :suitable part adapted to ground the circuit with the rails upon which the truck rests. 1Willi this arrzuigement it will be observed that with the track in normal condition, the vchicle merely serves to close the circuit between the rails oi the track Without a'liecting'the circuit from the battery 17 upon the vehicle, Vthe shoe 22 contacting with the bar Il prodiwing, no effect upon the circuit so long the bar /1 is not in electric contact with either of the rails ot the track. Upon the operation ot" the track circuit as hcreinbetore described however,

attached a movable contact nuinber i circuit between the bar Il; and one clE the rails o't the traclc, it is obvioi that the gagement or' the shoe th the l"- Will short circuit the battery 17 nract depriving the Signal oylcinting device El) el current and permittingl the ,came to be ou eratod in substantially the .ez/une naar as; it its circuit were broken. The cirf-ui when the engine shoe contacte with the truclr ron-- tact, the track circuit being operated aC ncfore mentioned, .may be 'traced an follow: battery 17, line 21, Contact 29, spring. Q8, shoe 27, track Contact line G1, eten 71, armature 151, line 161, rail 1, engine wheel, axle, Wire 19, binding pest 53, wheroit divides, part going back to the battery through spring 54, binding post 55 'and Wire 18, and part going back to the bat-- tery through electro-magnet 118, bindii' post 5, and Wire 23, but the first Laat. oi'lfering practically no resistance there is n y enough current passing through th'i electrol magnet to cause it to attract its armature; therefore, it falls.

From the above description it is obviorus that the breaking` or a rail in the section ahead of a vehicle, the inundation of the tracks, the severing of any of the conductore, or any other, accident liable to occur would. be findicatedyat the bar lof a y;recedingw section so that a. vehicle thereon would have time to come to a atop belore entering the 'damaged eectiu'i. Also in case the shoe upon the vehi le is brokenv away or the circuit to it broken, the device will operate the saine as in the case of a vehicle ulion the preceding section.

Any desired form of shoe may be pro vided upon the vehicle. In the lorni shown in Fig el a Suitable stationary part 224 upon the vehicle is provided, baring a pair oi projecting;` pins Q5-25 one at lach end ciltcnding therethrough adapted to receive the links ML-26, to the opposite end ot which,

il spring 28 is preferably provided to 'le siliently force the contact member avr-ay from. the part as chown in Fin: et. "the Q E l A j i l spring 2o is prelerably attacbml to the part Q7 and servee as a conductor between the Obviously when the contact member encounters a bar t. or any other object in ite nath tending' to move it 1n. either direction it will merely swing upon one oit the lullin 2G the movement being permitted by the slotted opening 30 in the opposite link, the contact member remaining' substantially parallel to its normal position.

any desired form. oit Signal operati.ugde

to close the l vice 20 may be provided. and arranged to lof operate any referred kind of signal mechanism. Ils iown this portion of my device is adapted to operate in conjunction with the air breite mechanism upon the train or vehicle, to set the brakes when indicating the approach of danger, thus tending` automatically `to stop the vehicle when my device operates. In the term shown an inclosingcasing 60 is provided having suitable doors or covers 61-61 upon its oppovsite sides to aord convenient access to its interior.v The doors 61-61 are preferably hinged to the part 60 and secured in closed position by a bolt 62 or other suitable means. A threaded recess. 31 is provided upon the part 6 0. for connecting the device to the train line of the brake system and an outlet opening 32 is provided connected to the recess 3l by means of a suitable port 33. n valve or slide 34.- is provided to control the port 33 and thus theescape of air from the train line. The valve 34 "maybe "of any suitable former cons'truction`adapted for 'this purpose. l'n the form shown this valve consists of a cylindrical vplunger snugly tted to a suitably formed portion of the recess 31, the plunger 3d being preferably so formed that the pressure in the train will tend to force vthe plunger inward and open the port 33, suitable means being provided to normally maintain the plunger 34 in position to prevent such movement.

ln the preferred construction shown, a stem or shanl-i 35 is provided upon the plunger 3i slidably vmounted .in a suitable bearing 36 upon the .trame 60 to guide the movement of the plunger. ,A bar provided with an extension 38 hinged to its free end by means of a suitable screw or equivalent means 4.3 is pivotally connected at its opposite end te the plunger 3l as no3-9 with the free end et the extension 3S positioned to engage a suitable stop or abutment Ll0 upon the trame 60 so that While the two parts of the bar are in line, the plunger will be rigidly maintained in its normal position. ispring il .is also provided to .partially control the moven ,ntor" the plunger when released. by movement oi" bar 37 and a nut i2 or ezpiivalent means provided upon the stein to adjust the pressiue ot the spring' tending to hold tl plunger in its normal position the pressure being preferably adjusted to merely cheek the too rapid movement of the plunger. To release the plunger 34 itis merely necessary to elevate the pivotal connection 4.3 between the bar and its extension. Any desired means may bev provided ste this purpose. As shown, the ends of the screw or pin 4:3 Jpreferably ext-end beyond thev outer sides of the bar and a pair of levers 44; are pivotally mounted upon the frame as at 45 one at eachv'side of the bar 37 the levers each having a suitably4 formed lug or projection 46 -sion 38 and force the l l l l l l I l i i l 1 i I l l l upon their approximate faces positioned to engage the upper side of the extremities of the pin i3 and hold the bar 37 in its normal position preferably with its free end resting upon the upper tace ofthe bearing 36. A second projection et? is provided upon each oli' the levers fill each projection positioned directly beneath the end of the bar 37 adlaceut the piu i3 so that when the lever 4d is permit-ted to assume the will first move from their positionrest-raining the upward movement of the pin 43, when the lugs 47 will engage the bar 37 near its pivotal connection with the eXtensame upward releasing the plunger as before described.

ln the preferred construct-ion the lever A is maintained in its normal position by means oi' suitable electromagnet d8, the armature 'sl-9 of which is pivotally attachedl to any suitable part oi the frame G0 and provided with n jaw 5() arranged to loosely engage u piu .3i or equivalent means extending between the levers le thus retaining the lever in position long as the magnet 48 energized but releasing the same -by gravity soon as the current to the magnet interrupted or potential sulliciently reduced The usual or any preferred means may be provided for attaching' the conductors 18 and 23 to the magnet 48 of the signal Operating mechanism 20 but it is obvious that in position shownJ` in broken lines in the drawing, the lugs 4G.,

the current from the battery 17 is short 100 circuited as is hereinbet'ore described for any protracted period, the battery 17 Will be ruined orits strength seriously impaired. To avoid this dilliculty, means are provided for breaking the circuit as ture l? is released owing to the short cir-` cuit. A.' shown, this accomplished by connecting one terminal "of the magnet 48 to a binding post to which one of the consoon as the armaductors from the battery i7 .is also attached, 110

as for example, the conductor 23. rhe other oithe magnet S is connected to an binding post.. to which the vire lois attached, the binding post heine* connected main b iding' post :i5 connected by the conductor to the opposite pole or". the battery. n. suitable p ;t' or pin 5G or equivalent means suitably insulated from the armature 9. is provided the spring 5i and hold its free end in contact 1.vith the binding.,T post 55 as long' as the magnet is energized.

lt preferred, .in order to prevent the too rapid discharge and the consequent danger of emergency operation of th'e brake mechauisnn an adjustable plug 57 may be pro` vided in the outlet 32 to control the escape of air at the outlet.

produclng an by a spring 54 to the 115 of air from the train line C; c-f Us,

i 1 ci. circii.

i that wiwi, 95.5111' 4;. "f :ivaxr'ri Vw ucsd iii the ;ifi u spying mii www; the pim: uiiti the ings Uli will und liiiiib that im@@muni` of iii wiai/ed paws in ibut di tim normali uid, :idnpiwl im; use irieifiisa 01" Shari', Girmi i. (me diiwiimi miiv 'id nimma; cmuprising a Contact rail E. wich S'sciim'i7 suri'ufuged in the Circuit wf "wi scfzimi mid si i'ioixiimiiy open electric ifm boifwecn zi ruil in sziiditmck cir und szii om'ificft mii, and n'ieaus iidzipi i -z pen said. vehicle circuit :1s soon as th upon i'viiiciusi moving .ii iipfm 'Line 11101) ii is oiwimis i my imfmifm muy w. iizici-r ruud Wij'u cugini iziii'is which muy be moving in @idw-i dii-iiiun upon i smilie L devici, mi i e kind described, a, ir fir-iwi: comprising ai, ality of successiva sacumis f sibsismtmily pamilel rails inA 13' 'isulated from each .the track circuit of another .lated from each other, two normally closed electric circuits, one `c1rcu1t including a tion of track, the other circuit carried by a vehicle mounted upon said track, each track circuit including mea-ns for short circuiting` said vehicle `circuit, said means comprising a contact bar for each section included in section, a contact shoe carried by the vehicle and connected in the circuit upon the vehicle.

7. In a device of the kind described, a track comprising a plurality of successive sections of. substantially parallel rails, i sulated from each other, and/an electric track circuit for each section, in combination with a contact bar for each section connect ed to the circuit of an adjacent track section, and means controlled by the circuit in which vsaid bar is connected for electrically7 connecting said bar temporarifv to one of the rails of its ovvn4 particular track section.

8. ln a device of the kind described, a track comprising al plurality of succeive sections of substantially parallel rails insu`- lated from each other, and an independent electric track circuit for each sect-ion, in combination with a contact bar for each section connected inthe circuit ci an adjacent track section and means controlled by tbe cire cuit in which said bar is connected for electricallyconnecting said bar temporarily i one of the rails of its own particular tract: section. l

9. In a device of the kind described` a track comprising a plurality ol? successive sections of substantially parallel rails insulated frorn each other, and an electric track circuit for each section, in combination with a contact bar for each section positioned substantially parallel to said rails and connected in the circuit of an adjacent track section7 and means controlled by the circuit in which said bar is connected for electrically connecting` said bar temporarily Ato one of the rails of its own particular track section.

l0. ln a device of' the kind described, a track comprising a plurality of successive sections of substantially parallel rails insu lated from each other, in combination with a single contact bar positioned near the end of each section and connected in the circuit of an adjacent track section, and means controlled by the circuit in which said bar is connected or electrically connecting said bar temporarily to one of the rails ot its own particular track section.

11. In a device of the kind described, a track comprising a plurality of successive sections of substantially parallel rails insuother, and an electric track circuit for each section, in combination with a single contact bar positioned parallel to, and between the rails near the end of each section, and connected in the circuit of ,an

vnected in adjacent track section, and means controlled by the circuit in Which said bar is connected for electrically connectingsaid bar temporarily to one of the rails of its own particu-lar track section.

l2. ln a device of the kind described, a tra-ck comprising a plurality of successive sections of substantially parallel rails insulated from each other, and an electric track circuit for .each section, in Jronibination with a contact bar for each section connected in the circuit 0f an adjacent track section, and a cuit in which said bar is connected for electrically connecting` said bar temporarily to one oi the rails of its civ-n particular track section.

relay controlled by the cir i3. ln a device of the kind described, e

track comprising a plurality of successive sections of substantially parallel rails insulated lfrom each otlier, and an electric track circuit for each section, in combination with a contact bar for each section contliecircuit of an adjacent track section, and means controlled by the circuit in which said bar is connected and adaptto be operated by the sliort-circuiting of said crcuit for electrically connectingr said bar tei'nporarily to one of the rails oi its own particular track section.

.ln a device cia the kind described, a k comprising a plurality of successive l ons oi substantially parallel railsinsulated from each other, and an independent electric track circuit for each section, in combination with a contact bar for each section, positioned substantially parallel to said rails and connected in the circuit .of an adjacent track section and means controlled by the circuit in which said bar is connected for electrically connecting said bar temporarily to one ot the rails of its own particular track section.

1.5. In a device of the kind described, a track comprising a plurality of successive sections of substantiellj7 parallel rails insulated irorn each other, and an independent electric track circuit i'or each section in combination with a single Contact bar positioned near the end of each section and connected in the circuit of an adjacent track section, and means controlled by 'the circuit in Wliicla said 'bar is connecter for electrically con` y necting" said bar temporarily to, one of the rails of its own particular track section.

16. In a device of the kind described, a track comprising a plurality of successive sections of substantially parallel rails insulated from each other, and an independent electric track circuit :tor each section, in combination with a single contact bar positioned parallel to, and between, the rails near the end of each section and connected in the circuit of an adjacent track section, and means controlled by the circuit in which Y mois. nher, mi :m 'ufcpe M3? m @l Jruck circuit ifm earch ser'tiorl: in Communion wh commet bur for euch flou Cmrnerthe crcu of 2111 adjacent 'tr-.wk Ss'ciiou., und :1 rc1-uy co'ntroled by the u1 t in `.Yrrcfh smid bm? i5 connected for euricury cmmrcizng said bar temporarily in on@ of the rails of its own parcular track br. 1,' "ci 'ectrd ius; @Quilted by me horbcr- @remt or electrically curr meting smid. bar mporarly tu @ne of the ccessiv corubnaon with n single @Unimet 'bnr p0s- Monod ,C bstru'rtzzlly parallel to, and betwuen, the raus nem the end of each suction :m connected in the Circuit of im nf'jacent track stnn, und a relay contruHed by the Circuit in 'which said bar is connected for dectr muy connecting snif bar tezrlporarly to one of the rails off its own 'particular ack Sec- Lion.

Xu dvc@ of the knd describe@ :1, track con'rpl'ifsrlg fr ph'rzty of Suc@ im Sracirms: Suiuszzmtaly pnrncl rail infinrzmh other, and :m ndmperlduilt ick @i1-mii; for web mation, in orrruhlmigm with :1 sngrl-ir ffnu's'u'b bnr ps tnrred ubstimtnly pzrralc n, mi@ bei: Um.; ih@ rails naar the, @ud of rem-l1 Non zm comleced in tbs cr': lit @f zw. ndjmfen; truck sation? and rc. uml'roued by the wir @uit in which rsf'd bar iS conmrted and f lupi/sd ro be oprrntd g therSharif-@iraninng @if smid circu i501' dem@ @Uy mrmfz'ngf Smid bnr 'tempo 'uriy to one of thu rails Hf its own particular track section.,

22E. n a device of the kind descrbei, n

irack cmnprisng a luraflity of successw sectwns of silbstzmtmlly paralel nuls 1mmhre 1r other, mld an mdf-pendent mu; im: clec'nficnlly Comma ,i tmpurm'y to on@ of the ra., mrrcular truck section.

n restuwrfy Wherao', bm" mil, my mlm 'm 'the pr. 1

DESS

OSCAR M" 'fiinrsses t BUMGN U., HILLS, CHARLES I. COBB. 

